About The Position

The Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a vital member of the intensive care team, primarily responsible for managing critically ill complex patients within a cardiothoracic ICU setting. The NP possesses specialized skills and knowledge pertinent to the unique Cardiothoracic ICU environment. Responsibilities include performing physical exams, collecting and documenting patient data, conducting approved diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, ordering and scheduling laboratory studies and professional consultations, prescribing interventions and medications, and providing direct patient care services according to established protocols and evidence-based clinical practice standards. The NP also contributes to excellence in patient care, research, teaching, consulting, and provides leadership within the organization and to the nursing profession. Duties may involve obtaining patient health histories, performing complete physical examinations, documenting findings, ordering and interpreting diagnostic and laboratory tests, and explaining procedures to patients and families. The NP performs approved therapeutic or diagnostic procedures, documents patient preparation and response, and collaborates with supervising physicians to formulate and implement treatment plans for acute illness management. Essential duties include managing high acuity patients, developing individualized Plans of Care, conducting in-depth patient and family interviews, performing initial and periodic physical examinations, identifying and treating diseases, and managing hospitalized patients. The NP directly performs or orders diagnostic studies, interprets results, and develops long and short-range treatment plans. Specific procedures may include obtaining specimens, performing injections, immunizations, lumbar punctures, skin biopsies, suturing, wound care, and managing trauma or infection-related conditions. The NP writes medication orders (subject to physician counter-signature), prescribes interventions and medications, and provides direct patient care in the ICU. They maintain accurate patient records, update charts, change orders as appropriate, and notify physicians of patient condition changes. Patient and family education regarding preventive care, medical and psychological problems, and treatment adherence is also a key responsibility. The NP ensures compliance with university and department policies, quality assurance, safety, environmental, and infection control standards, as well as accreditation and regulatory agency requirements. Participation in in-service education and professional associations, along with providing leadership, is expected. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

  • Master's degree Graduate from an accredited school of Nursing (MSN).
  • Five years clinical nursing experience.
  • 2 years minimum Cardiothoracic ICU experience as a NP or RN required.
  • Experience in the following devices required: Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), Ventricular Assist Device (VAD), IMPELLA, Intra-aortic Balloon Pump (IABP)
  • Must be able to intubate patients (or willing to perform this function once trained)
  • Must be able manage critical situations and codes.
  • Registered Nurse - RN (CA Board of Registered Nursing)
  • Nurse Practitioner - NP (CA Board of Registered Nursing)
  • Nurse Practitioner Furnisher (CA DCA) Current license to furnish medications in the State of California.
  • DEA Certificate Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Certificate issued by the U.S. Department of Justice for Schedule II-V controlled substances.
  • NP Board Certified Possession of National Board Certification in Nurse Practitioner area of specialty accredited by Accreditation Board of Specialty Nursing (ABSNC) or National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
  • If work in Hospital/Acute Care Setting must have Certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) or Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) upon hire.
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider from American Heart Association
  • Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Healthcare Provider from American Heart Association - ACLS as required by the NPs Job description for NPs in the Hospital/Acute Care Setting and Ambulatory Infusion Centers (Required for Hospital/Acute & Infusion Center Clinic settings only)
  • Fire Life Safety Training (LA City) If no card upon hire, one must be obtained within 30 days of hire and maintained by renewal before expiration date. (Required within LA City only)

Nice To Haves

  • (Grandfathered from Acute Care Certification requirement if hired/transferred prior to 12/2015.)

Responsibilities

  • Primary responsibility is the management of critically ill complex patients in an intensive care setting.
  • Demonstrates the ability to manage high acuity patients requiring specialized monitoring and care.
  • Develops Plans of Care with individualized interventions and completes patient care procedures correctly.
  • Conducts in-depth interviews with patients and/or family, constructs comprehensive medical histories, performs initial and periodic physical examinations and explores patient’s interpretation of health needs.
  • Identifies and treats patients’ diseases.
  • Manages treatment of hospitalized patients.
  • Directly performs or orders appropriate diagnostic studies and interprets finished results including lab studies, professional consults and approved diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
  • Develops and implements long and short range treatment plans.
  • Formulates and implements treatment plans for acute illness management in collaboration with the designated primary supervising physician and/or attending back-up physicians.
  • Performs procedures such as obtaining specimens, performing injections, immunizations, lumbar punctures, skin biopsies, suturing, wound care and management of conditions produced by trauma or infection.
  • Writes orders to increase, decrease or change medication, subject to checking and counter-signing by physician.
  • Prescribes appropriate interventions and medications and provides direct patient care services in the ICU setting, according to established protocols and utilizes evidence-based clinical practice standards.
  • Identifies records pertinent progress of patients, updating and summarizing charts, changing orders when appropriate and notifying the responsible physician of changes in the patient’s condition.
  • Instructs and counsels patients and families regarding preventive care, medical problems, psychological problems, and use of prescribed treatments and drugs.
  • Maintains compliance with established University and department policies and procedures, quality assurance, safety, environmental, infection control and complies with requirements of accreditation and regulatory agencies.
  • Participates in in-service education programs and professional associations.
  • Provides leadership to the organization and nursing profession.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

  • The hourly rate range for this position is $77.64 – $127.00.
  • USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy.
  • USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law.
  • USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety.
  • We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at [email protected] . Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.
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